Ford hitting the ground running?
QuoteJacksonville Transportation Authority Executive Director Nathaniel Ford said Thursday the authority will seek alternative fuel options for its fleet to lessen reliance on diesel, a step that would require a major capital investment.
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2012-12-14
Again, St. John's County is ahead of us. They are moving forward with plans to convert their public works vehicle fleet to compressed natural gas. It's much cheaper, cleaner and the engines last longer than with gasoline or diesel.
They will have to put in several refueling stations, which will require capital expenditure, but their existing fleet of vehicles is at the end of their life and need replacing anyway. I think that there are some Federal incentives to pay the extra cost of natural gas vehicles over gasoline and diesel ones.
I vote they start using electricity for vehicles on rails.
Discussions are underway with all local municipalities and gov't agencies:
"The North Florida TPO is the host agency for the North Florida Clean Cities Coalition. For the past three years, the TPO has provided Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to support the Coalition and pursue initiatives to assist member counties, municipalities and regional partners to support fleet conversion. Working with the Florida Department of Transportation, the TPO has programmed additional CMAQ funds per guidance under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) which highlights support for natural gas-fueled vehicles. On November 8, 2012, the TPO Board approved programming $732,464 for the North Florida TPO Regional Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion Initiative.
This 18-month initiative will support the conversion and upgrade of new municipal fleet vehicles as they pursue partnerships with fuel providers to develop the necessary CNG fueling stations. Cost savings from using alternative fuels can then be invested in future alternative fuel vehicle acquitions, saving even more taxpayer dollars. CNG was selected due to its applicability to the types of vehicles in municipal fleets. However, the investment will serve as a pilot program to evaluate opportunities for other alternatives including biofuels, propane and electric vehicles as appropriate."
http://www.youtube.com/v/jZDydjcfJ6A
It would be nice to drive the PCT'S off into the river and replace them with REAL electric buses, feeding into rail based transit.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/TRANSIT%20Trolley%20Buses/ScreenShot2012-12-14at53301PM_zpsb0796448-1_zps6059d765.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/TRANSIT%20Trolley%20Buses/ScreenShot2012-12-14at60131PM_zps3ee25991-1_zpsacbe827f.jpg)
Or imagine a REAL GRANT from the Federal Government for a solar array like the new PV plants. Power gear giant Siemens has bought a stake in startup Semprius that makes solar concentrating photovoltaic tech, which use mirrors and lenses to concentrate sunlight onto highly efficient solar cells. Solar concentrating PV is a sort of hybrid between solar panels and solar thermal tech.
MR FORD, IT WOULD BE NICE FOR US TO LEAD FOR A CHANGE!
Quote2011, D'Anne Mica has joined the National Ocean Industries Association as director of government and political affairs. Before joining NOIA, Mica was managing partner and co-founder of the public and government relations firm grasshopper media and founder and president of Mica Strategic Communications.
Quote2011: SON: Clark Mica is the director of government relations at The Fertilizer Institute, where he monitors and lobbies legislative and regulatory matters such as water quality, energy and environmental issues.